My professors at Notre Dame have encouraged me to brainstorm innovative solutions to elusive issues, such as world peace. Hope breeds peace.” My education has given me the confidence to ask difficult questions, offer my perspective and engage in discussions with experts in the field. Confucius once said, “Education breeds confidence. Above all else, I believe that education produces hope. I feel called to defend the right to education because I recognize the value of my own educational opportunities. Universal access to quality education is an urgent need, but committed changemakers are needed to create a tangible impact. If every child was able to complete secondary education, UNESCO data shows that globally, the number of poor people could be reduced by more than half. In my first year at Notre Dame, I gained the ability to articulate what my education means to me, as well as what it can mean for the world’s youth. This means that the right to education is legally guaranteed for all, that states are obligated to protect and fulfill this right and that they can be held accountable for violating it. In 1948, education was recognized as a basic human right by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. While I am certainly privileged to have received a quality education, I now believe that a good education is, in fact, a right. I grew up being told that my education was a privilege, not a right -that I should be grateful to have attended highly-rated public schools meant to prepare me for a successful career and a life of financial security. Still, Gandhi’s proposition begs the question: Can the education of children truly build peace? Fortunately, it can accessible and quality education can serve as the keystone of peace within a society and ultimately, the world. I think that many, like myself, would agree with this philosophy on education - there is much more to it than training for the workforce. A quality education contributes not only to socioeconomic progress, but also to the holistic development of the individual. Mahatma Gandhi once said,“If we are to reach real peace in this world, we shall have to begin with the children.” If we are to begin with the children, we are to begin with their education.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |